Belgian Grand Prix 2004 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Kimi Räikkönen ended Ferrari's winning streak with a brilliant victory at Spa-Francorchamps, controlling the Belgian Grand Prix from Jarno Trulli's pole position to give McLaren their first win of a disappointing season. The Finn drove magnificently through the Ardennes forest, managing the challenging circuit expertly while Michael Schumacher could only finish second despite his championship already being secured. Rubens Barrichello completed the podium in third for Ferrari, the result ending the Italian team's run of seven consecutive victories.

Räikkönen's triumph represented McLaren's sole highlight in a season dominated by Ferrari's overwhelming superiority. Starting from third on the grid after Trulli's Renault took pole, the Finn executed a perfect race strategy to claim victory on one of Formula 1's most demanding circuits. Schumacher drove well to finish second but couldn't match Räikkönen's pace, the world champion content to secure solid points with the title already wrapped up. The result demonstrated that McLaren's MP4-19 could be competitive at specific circuits, though their season-long struggles underlined how far they'd fallen from championship contention.

The Belgian Grand Prix provided welcome relief from Ferrari's monotonous dominance, Räikkönen's victory offering hope that 2005 might deliver more competitive racing. McLaren celebrated enthusiastically despite their single-win season representing their worst campaign since 1996. For Schumacher and Ferrari, the defeat mattered little - the championship was secure, their dominance absolute, and their legacy as Formula 1's greatest team cemented. Only four races remained in a season that had rewritten the sport's record books.